As an educator for many years, Madona Cole-Lacy, Bellmore resident and program director of My Time Has Come, said she knows the importance of the arts in schools and in people's everyday lives. She will host an art workshop, "Creative Conversations and Artistic Expressions," on Oct. 30 in Merrick to celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month.

"I thought it was a good chance for me to raise awareness of the importance of the arts in the Long Island community and in our schools," she said.

Cole-Lacy created My Time Has Come more than 20 years ago. "My Time Has Come is an art-related organization that addresses social, cultural, and intergenerational issues through art workshops," she said.

Cole-Lacy has hosted workshops for families and educators on Long Island for years. "The arts are so important," she said. "It breaks my heart that due to budget cuts, arts programs are the first that are cut in schools. All types of art, poetry, visual arts and clothing show us that we have a lot more in common as human beings."

The workshop will include art and culture related conversations and participants will be able to create their own pieces of artwork. Cole-Lacy urged participants to bring an artifact, picture or piece of fabric that reflects the "richness of their culture" to the event. "Even if you were born in America, you still come from somewhere else," she said. "I am looking forward to everyone coming together and bringing their cultural heritage to share it and celebrate it."

Creative Conversations and Artistic Expressions will take place at the Merrick Road Park Golf Course at 2550 Club House Road in Merrick on Oct. 30 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. RSVP with Madona Cole-Lacy at (516) 783-9178 or madona@mytimehascome.org.